Fernald master plan proposed: 5 things to know from Waltham City Council meeting

Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 at 2:09 PMNov 28, 2017 at 5:54 PM

Melissa Russell mrussell@wickedlocal.com @WalthamNewsTrib

Tax vote increases residential exemption

The Waltham City Council voted 12-1 Nov. 27 to increase the residential exception for property tax from 25 to 30 percent. According to City Councilor Patrick O’Brien, the residential factor was maximized to offer property tax relief to homeowners.

This means the average Waltham resident will see their tax bill go down to $21.25 instead of increasing by an average of $75.95, O’Brien said. Homes valued over $627,200 will see a rise in the tax bill, he said.

The average Waltham home is valued at $433,000, according to O’Brien. Values went up approximately 6 to 7 percent over the previous year.

In an interview after the meeting, O’Brien said many homeowners are not aware they qualify for the exemption, and should contact the city assessor’s office at 781-314-3200 for more information. Almost every owner-occupied house is eligible, he said.

Fernald master plan proposed

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy submitted a proposed master plan for the Fernald property, making requests regarding transfer and control of several land parcels, demolition of buildings, rezoning of parcels for new purposes and the creation of a museum acknowledging Fernald as the oldest institution for the developmentally disabled in the Western Hemisphere.

The city purchased the nearly 200-acre Fernald property in 2014, and since then, there have been steps taken toward restoring and preserving the land, as well as wide discussion on what to do with it. Community meetings were held in 2016, inviting residents to put forth their ideas for the use of the property that was once home to the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, which discharged its last resident in 2014.

Since the purchase of the property, the city hired a real estate firm and a planning firm to develop a plan for use. It has been considered for veterans housing, affordable housing, cemetery space, a detox and rehabilitation center, and as a potential site for a new high school. Residents suggested the creation of cross-country running space and bicycle trails, a golf course, a performance center and an outdoor recreation center.

The northern 140 acres were purchased with Community Preservation Act funds, restricting use to open space/recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing.

The mayor proposed transferring the care, custody and control of the first parcel to the city’s recreation department for open space and recreation, the Cardinal Cottage, Baldwin Cottage and Trapelo Cottage for affordable housing, the chapel for cemetery use, the Marquadt Building for affordable housing for veterans and Howe Hall, the Administration Building and Hillside Building for community uses.

She requested the demolition of the Greene Building, Shriver Building and Kelly Hall, and the transfer of the West Building and Howe Library to the Waltham Historical Commission. She also suggested the city invite Requests for Information to see if there is any interest from the public in the reuse of existing buildings and land.

The issue was sent to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion.

Police station design funds requested

McCarthy asked for the appropriation of $506,000 for design work for the Lexington Street police station. Under the current plan, the police would need to be relocated temporarily to the Marquadt Building at the former Fernald Developmental Center site during the construction work, a move that has been opposed as unsafe by the police union, due to the condition of the buildings. Police have been lobbying for a new facility for years. The City Council tabled the issue last April. The issue was sent to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion.

Park improvement funds requested

The mayor requested $1.6 million for design and improvements to Prospect Hill Park. Nicholas Abruzzi, in a letter to the council, said the funds would go toward hiring a designer and contractor to improve the park.

“The project would allow us to continue to make improvements to the park that were outlined in the (city's) Master Plan,” he said.

Due to the amount request, Councilman Daniel Romard requested the issue to go before the Committee of the Whole, and asked that Abruzzi speak to the members about how the funds would be used.

“We haven’t had a presentation on that,” Romard said.

Abruzzi will come before the council Dec. 18.

The mayor also requested $150,000 to engage a designer for the Cornelia Warren Playground, to improve the facility, including the softball field, parking areas and to explore other recreational amenities.

The council approved providing $100,000 to engage a contractor to repair and resurface the courts and spray parks throughout the city, as recommended by the Finance Committee.

Open Meeting Law violation response

In response to a complaint filed by residents Donald and Lidia Desrochers, arguing that the council had violated the state Open Meeting Law by not reading their petition into the record or allowing them to speak publicly about their petition at a meeting, the council shared the finding of the City Law Department that no violation had occurred.

The Law Department letter stated: “Your complaint is based on two claims: That you are entitled under Open Meeting law, to have your petition read into the record at a City Council meeting and that you are entitled to speak at a City Council meeting on the topic of your petition. Unfortunately, neither of these matters are governed by the Open Meeting law.”

The finding states the purpose and intent of the law is to make deliberations of public bodies open and transparent, not to require that any particular action be taken with respect to any particular matter. The statute, according to the letter, does not require the City Council permit nonmembers to speak and does not require any particular documents be read into the record. The finding noted the petition is available through a link on the City Council web page.